Welcome to SAAA!

The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) is a non profit organization that provides high quality services and opportunities that enhance the dignity and independence of seniors and promote their contributions to the community.

Agency services are designed to assist older persons who wish to stay in their own homes, to provide information for seniors and their families, to protect individuals living in long term care residences, and to facilitate staying active and provide community service.

Join SAAA in one or more of the many activities this month.

Click on the links for Services and the Active Living Center (ALC) in your county to view the special activities and menu at each ALC. Check out Upcoming Events on the right for meetings including Board and Advisory Council.

Also, be sure you scroll down to look at Top News and More SAAA News.

Meet Us at the Movies – A Fun Event for SAAA Senior Center Participants

We had about 125 attending, almost filling the largest theater at the Alamo.

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You’ve Done Something to Crow About

Thank Heavens for SAAA Services!

On a sweltering hot Friday afternoon, Kris Daley, a homemaker for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) stopped by a client’s home as scheduled to clean. To her horror, she found her client, Ms. F sprawled on the back deck barely breathing and unresponsive. Kris immediately called 911 and followed the dispatcher’s directions to try to get her out of the blazing sun. She was only able to pull her partially into the shade, but she continued to keep the 911 dispatcher updated on her client’s breathing until the ambulance arrived.

Ms. F had suffered third degree burns from lying so long in the direct sun, but fortunately recovered and returned home from the hospital. Kris was informed that in just a few more hours under the hot sun, the client would not have survived. That afternoon, Kris had literally saved a life instead of performing her normal homemaker activities.

Kris Daley is the third SAAA employee to receive the “You’ve Done Something to Crow About” award. The award, established in the fall of 2015 and supported by a Board Member’s donations, recognizes employees who have made a significant contribution to SAAA by: building or improving an existing program, increasing the quality of services to older adults or for going the “extra mile” to increase support of the SAAA mission.

Charity Michael, SAAA Care Manager and Homemaker Supervisor, stated that Kris Daley is dedicated to the seniors that she provides cleaning assistance for. She often goes above and beyond the call of duty and is truly deserving of the “Something to Crow About” award for her exceptional services that now include saving a client’s life.

Page Senior Center Opened Monday, June 20 For Lunch & Programming

Johnny Woodward, Chairman of the Page County Board of Supervisors, officially cut the ribbon opening the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging’s Page Senior Center, located at 10 Second Street, Luray (Corner of Reservoir Road & 2nd Street).

Tina Mann and Martha Watkins, SAAA Advisory Council Members representing Page County were among the many attendees. The pictures below capture the morning’s festivities. Call Center Director Amy Courtney at 743-1241 for information. The Center will be open Monday through Thursday serving residents of Page County who are aged 60 or older.

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Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging Hosts Annual Senior Picnic

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Two hundred and twenty people gathered at the Clarke County Ruritan Building on June 22nd representing the seven Senior Centers operated by the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. They Joined together for the annual tradition of barbecued chicken, summer fun and the honoring of special volunteers.

Recognized for their volunteer service at the Senior Centers were Marilyn Foster from the Fort Valley Center, Sylvia Keane from the Page Center, Teresa Suttle from the Shenandoah Center, Pearl Bell from the Warren Center, Margaret and Mike Linster from the Clarke Center, Geneva Campbell from the Frederick Center and Barbara Shaw from the Winchester Center.

Cathy Kerns with New City Entertainment served as the DJ and provided musical entertainment that had seniors on their feet clapping and dancing.

Leader Training

There’s a wonderful, free opportunity for Leader Training for Chronic Disease Self-Management. All training is done in teams of two. Please read and share the flyer with anyone who might be interested. Class requires 10 participants to meet Stanford University guidelines.

Adult Years Video

Artistic Fun!

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Carol Erickson with Creative Entrepreneur visited the Frederick Active Living Center this week to teach a painting class, generously donating her time, talent and supplies.

She did a marvelous job teaching and working with the participants to complete their wonderful paintings. You can see by the pictures how much fun everyone had! The Center staff even had to delay lunch at the painters’ insistence so they could finish their masterpieces!

SAAA Honors Volunteer Jennifer Patton

On Friday, November 13 SAAA honored Jennifer Patton as a Distinguished Volunteer during the Association of Fundraising Professionals National Philanthropy Day Luncheon. Three years ago, Jenn offered to hold a Bowlathon to raise money for aging support services. This summer she organized her third Bowlathon and raised more money than the first two together. We at SAAA are grateful for her enthusiasm, commitment and support! Her husband Michael Patton was her guest at the luncheon. Barry Lee of WINC was the emcee.

SAAA Receives Corporate Gift

Terry Martin, HR Generalist 1 with the Andersen Corporation Storm Door Division in Luray, congratulates Cathie Galvin, Executive Director of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, after presenting a $14,000 check from the Andersen Foundation to be used for aging support services in Page County.

Thank You!

The Warren County Senior Center presented Officer Robbie Seal from the Front Royal Police Department with “Thank You” Snack Bags for the officers on his shift including the dispatchers to show appreciation for all they do in the community. We Support the Blue!! Pictured with Officer Seal is Misty Alger, Warren County Senior Center Cook.

Special Gifts for Meals on Wheels

Ms. Amanda Ebenal and her second graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School are preparing special gifts for SAAA’s Meals on Wheels recipients in the Strasburg area. They recently planted “Tickle Me” seeds. Now they are tenderly watering and watching them grow. The leaves of “Tickle Me” plants close when touched so they’ll be fun for both the children and their recipients. Thank you Ms. Ebenal and her Second Grade Class for a wonderful project. Here are some pictures from planting and watering.

Mary & Linda Making Grinch Candle Holder

Terry Byrne, Warren Active Living Center Director, shared this photo of Mary Marlin & Linda Gilespie making a “Grinch” holiday candle holder to keep or gift for Christmas! The Warren Center is one of seven that SAAA offers throughout our service area. There’s no reason to be bored or lonely, check out their locations, hours, programs and menus under the Active Living Centers tab. And share this information with older neighbors and friends.

Thanks to Our Bowlathon Sponsors

Ways to Give

You can make a difference right now with your on-line donation. After you click the oval Donate Button and complete the information on the first screen, click Review and then follow the directions below to indicate whether this is a donation or a payment and to give further details.

On the second screen when you review, Look in the box labeled Purpose, right under Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, you’ll see the word Designation. When you click on Designation, a box will open and you can type in what the donation or payment is to be used for. Example: Payment for Boots & BBQ Boot Strap Sponsorship or Donation for Our Place – Clarke.

Fraud Alert

During Medicare Part D Open Enrollment (Oct. 15- Dec. 7) know what to look for and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.

Look out for the following schemes to steal your identity and your money:

1. A person claiming to be from Medicare or your health plan says they want to send you a new ID card and needs your Social Security number for confirmation.

2. Someone calls about a refund from last year’s premiums or your drug plan costs. To get the refund they need your Medicare or Social Security number.

3. A person tries to get you to sign up for a plan that you don’t need, isn’t right for you, or doesn’t even exist – just to collect money from you.

Shop and Support SAAA

Click this link to shop at Amazon Smile and Amazon will give a donation of .5% of your purchase to SAAA.

Thanks for shopping and supporting at the same time!

Medicare Reminder

Medicare’s General Enrollment Period (GEP) is coming to an end on March 31. If you did not enroll in Medicare when you originally became eligible for it, you can sign up during this General Enrollment Period, which is from January 1st through March 31st of every year. Your coverage will begin July 1st of the year you sign up. You will have to pay a Part B premium penalty for every year you delayed enrolling in Medicare Part B. Contact Marty Schiller, VICAP Specialist at 540-551-5615 if you have questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting. There is no charge for this service but donations are important in helping SAAA provide this service.

Remember too, VICAP staff are also available to do presentations for church and community meetings on Medicare coverage and benefits.

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Through SAAA, speakers are available on the fascinating and important topic of Preventing Medicare Fraud & Abuse. As a subgrantee of the Virginia SMP program, SAAA recruits volunteers to help educate local beneficiaries and prevent health care fraud in our communities. The SMP State Office trains volunteers to help or provide group education and community outreach and information about detecting and reporting suspected fraud.

Contact SAAA’s Insurance Specialist Marty Schiller at 540 551-5615 for information on scheduling a free speaker for an upcoming church or club meeting or for more information about becoming a Volunteer Community Representative for SMP in the counties of Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick Clarke or the city of Winchester.

Shenandoah University "Adult Years" Psychology Class & Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging: Spring 2014 "Adult Years and the Aging Process" class album, detailing our collaboration with the Winchester Active Living Center of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Narrated by Avicii.

Scott King, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology and the students in his adult years and the Aging Process completed a project on Debunking Aging Myths with SAAA’s Winchester Active Living Center participants. Here is the story of their experience in video.

NAS and SAAA have just entered into an exciting partnership. The NAS website has launched providing everyone with information about all kinds of services that are available for seniors. Services include all types of care, financial services including reverse mortgages, help with downsizing, selling a home, or moving and so much more.

SAAA News

Governor McAuliffe announced Virginia’s wellness program that helps older Virginians with chronic diseases has won a $900,000 grant to expand across the Commonwealth and include individuals with dementia and their caregivers.